joieman
Member
A few observations about bus design:
Firstly, most double decker buses in the UK no longer seem to have staircases that rise backwards instead of forwards; the most recent bus sold in the UK that seems to have this arrangement to my knowledge is the Ayats Bravo. I assume that backwards-rising staircases are less safe than regular forwards-rising stairs, as with the former design there is the risk that people descending on the stairs when the bus is in motion would be thrown further should the bus brake suddenly.
Secondly, I remember riding on former Arriva London DLAs in Leicestershire, and many of these had a staircase in the middle of the bus instead of over the front wheel immediately behind the driver's cab. I wonder if such an arrangement would have the potential to reduce antisocial behaviour onboard buses upstairs as there would be two shorter dead ends, as it were, rather than one long cul-de-sac.
Thirdly, I remember reading a while back that some disability campaigners wanted forwards-facing wheelchair spaces onboard buses as travelling backwards can make some people nauseous. The way I understand the design of these (as an able-bodied person) is that they face backwards to, once again, prevent injury should the bus stop suddenly, by preventing the wheelchair from moving through inertial forces. Is it possible to design a wheelchair space that allows the wheelchair user to sit forwards or even sideways, or are there any examples of this already in use?
Lastly, why do bus manufacturers still persist in putting backwards-facing seats over the rear wheels when people are reluctant to use them and they are used as little more than footrests?
Firstly, most double decker buses in the UK no longer seem to have staircases that rise backwards instead of forwards; the most recent bus sold in the UK that seems to have this arrangement to my knowledge is the Ayats Bravo. I assume that backwards-rising staircases are less safe than regular forwards-rising stairs, as with the former design there is the risk that people descending on the stairs when the bus is in motion would be thrown further should the bus brake suddenly.
Secondly, I remember riding on former Arriva London DLAs in Leicestershire, and many of these had a staircase in the middle of the bus instead of over the front wheel immediately behind the driver's cab. I wonder if such an arrangement would have the potential to reduce antisocial behaviour onboard buses upstairs as there would be two shorter dead ends, as it were, rather than one long cul-de-sac.
Thirdly, I remember reading a while back that some disability campaigners wanted forwards-facing wheelchair spaces onboard buses as travelling backwards can make some people nauseous. The way I understand the design of these (as an able-bodied person) is that they face backwards to, once again, prevent injury should the bus stop suddenly, by preventing the wheelchair from moving through inertial forces. Is it possible to design a wheelchair space that allows the wheelchair user to sit forwards or even sideways, or are there any examples of this already in use?
Lastly, why do bus manufacturers still persist in putting backwards-facing seats over the rear wheels when people are reluctant to use them and they are used as little more than footrests?
